Be Present !!!

 

Few months ago I asked these two questions to all kids attending a gathering

Few things you want your parents to stop doing and….
Few things you want your parents to start doing

I got some interesting responses

Things I want my parents to stop doing:

—Stop comparing my life with your childhood. Things were really different back then, so stop comparing.

—Stop using these words and phrases: use your brain, are you deaf? Can’t you see? Useless, careless, good for nothing….etc….

—stop showing off my skills. I don’t want to dance in front of your friends. I don’t like to do that. Why do you force me to sing/ dance or show my art work to our relatives or friends?

—Can you speak softly? I’m tired to hear you shout, every day, every single moment.

 

Things I want my parents to start doing:

—Smile, please… I don’t remember when was the last time my mom smiled. She usually carries a frown on her face. That look irritates me.

—Appreciate. I know I’m not good at all things, but many things only I can do, no one else can. So a little bit appreciation is good na….

—Hug me, I see how my mom hugs my 5 year old sister, but when I run to hug her…she immediately says, “Later, first do you work” huh!

—Play with me. I love to play with my friends, but playing with mom dad is fun! If only they had time to play….

—Tell me a story. I’d love to listen to their childhood tales, especially about their mistakes, failures and mischief. But my parents always keep telling about all their achievements. It makes me scared. What if I can’t achieve success the way they achieved….?

—Keep that WhatsApp aside. Talk to me mom & dad.

—Can I sleep in your bedroom at least once a month? I love cuddling you guys.

 

 

So parents, wondering what to gift your child this holiday season, here’s your list. Be present for your children and make parenting engaging and fulfilling.

 

BE PRESENT

 

 

Do something different, do something that you would always think of, do something that you have been waiting to do… Make this year stress free and a happier one… Happy new year

Time has no holiday.. Dreams have no expiry date.. And life has no pause button.
Live it.. Love it..

Enjoy each and every moment of your life….!!

Save only those memories which gives twinkle in your eyes… Not wrinkles on your face…!!

 

What is Yoga ?

Yoga (Sanskritयोग) is a commonly known generic term for the physicalmental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India with a view to attain a state of permanent peace. It is practiced in many different ways all over the world. Specifically, yoga is one of the six āstika (“orthodox”) schools of Hindu philosophy. One of the most detailed and thorough expositions on the subject is the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, which defines yoga as “the stilling of the changing states of the mind” (Sanskrit: योग: चित्त-वृत्ति निरोध:). Yoga has also been popularly defined as “union with the divine” in other contexts and traditions.

  • Yoga is a timeless tradition from Rig Veda with a history of over 5000 years
  • Yoga means uniting individual soul Jeevatma with universal soul Paramatma
  • Yoga is Citta Vritti Nirodah means, yoga controls the fluctuations of the mind
  • Yoga is an ancient philosophy that educates on health and harmonious living
  • Yoga is a science of self-awareness, self development and self-transformation
  • Yoga is a holistic discipline that integrates body and mind, creates perfect balance
  • Yoga is not just physical exercise, it builds emotional stability and calms the mind
  • Yoga is a powerful health discipline that heals many health issues without medicine
  • Yoga is a way of life that boosts positive energies and improves quality of life
  • Yoga bestows self understanding, love, knowledge, wisdom and happiness
  • Yoga awakens the spiritual self, makes the practitioner experience inner divinity
  • Yoga is a natural therapy that makes one look healthy, youthful and beautiful
  • Yoga is an amazing inward journey that illuminates life beyond pain and suffering

 

 

Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita refers to the skill of union with the ultimate reality or the Absolute. In his commentary, Zaehner says that the root meaning of yoga is “yoking” or “preparation”; he proposes the basic meaning “spiritual exercise”, which conveys the various nuances in the best way.

Sivananda’s commentary regards the eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad Gita as having a progressive order, by which Krishna leads “Arjuna up the ladder of Yoga from one rung to another.” The influential commentator Madhusudana Sarasvati divided the Gitas eighteen chapters into three sections of six chapters each. Swami Gambhiranandacharacterises Madhusudana Sarasvati’s system as a successive approach in which Karma yoga leads to Bhakti yoga, which in turn leads to Gyaana yoga:

  • Chapters 1–6 = Karma yoga, the means to the final goal
  • Chapters 7–12 = Bhakti yoga or devotion
  • Chapters 13–18 = Gyaana yoga or knowledge, the goal itself

 

Truths about Yoga

Most people think yoga is a physical exercise that improves body flexibility.
They are interested in fast paced activities and find yoga slow paced and
uninteresting. They do not realize that fast paced activities cause fatigue,
exhaustion and disturb the mind and body balance.

Some people think yoga is only an alternative therapy that provides relief for
headaches, arthritis, back pain, high blood pressure, diabetes and other ailments.
Such people attend yoga classes till their issues get fixed, and discontinue their
practice. Very few people are aware of the true benefits of yoga.

Some people think yoga is a religious practice that deals with rituals.This is not
true. Yoga is a basis of all religions. It educates the practitioner on self understanding,
love, selfless service, management of pain and peaceful living.

When yoga practice starts in childhood, it is a great blessing for the children. Their
systems will function well, posture and mental abilities will improve, there will be
awareness of right and wrong, children will develop positive thinking and emotional
stability. Their immune system will be strengthened and will be free from disease.

Yoga is for everyone. It is never too late to start yoga; one can start yoga even
after attaining age sixty. Yoga is a gift for all ages and a boon for the old age. It
infuses vitality in the old age, develops abilities to adapt to changing situations,
builds confidence and makes the extra years meaningful.

The only necessity is to learn yoga from a knowledgeable and experienced teacher
who will understand the needs of the individual, provide proper guidance and right
knowledge.

 

Food for Mind & Body – Guidelines for Healthy Eating

 

The food you eat determines your physical, mental and emotional health. Many people do not
realize this truth. They eat unhealthy food all the time and destroy their health. Unhealthy foods
are precooked frozen foods, pizzas, deep fried foods, hot-spicy, overcooked food, burnt food,
chips, burgers, colas, refined grains that do not have fibre, foods that contain too much sugar, salt, artificial colour and preservatives. Such foods have no nutritive value; they increase fat and bad cholesterol, weaken the digestive system and lead to ill-health.

Many people are not aware that water is an essential ingredient for the body and mind. Water is a natural detox that eliminates waste and toxins, refreshes the brain, carries nutrients, promotes digestion,prevents dehydration, reduces stress, prevents headaches, improves concentration and dissolves all the excesses. It serves as a lubricant, regulates body temperature and is vital for health just like oxygen. Drink at least twelve glasses of water everyday for good health.

 

Beverages such as tea, coffee, wine, beer and aerated drinks, have no calories, no vitamins and minerals. They contain caffeine, sugar, alcohol and chemicals that deplete natural energies and destroy mind-body balance. Drink home-made vegetable and fruit juices. They have vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, aid digestion, refresh brain, promote weight loss, nourish and heal cells, tissues, glands and organs. They rejuvenate mind and body after a surgery, provide good relief for ulcers , high blood pressure, fatigue, bad cholesterol, diabetes, cardiac and kidney problems.

A well planned vegetarian diet meets all nutritional needs of body and mind and also prevent diseases. Ensure your diet has all the essential nutrients. Snack on fresh fruits, keep your stomach light when you go to bed. If you work under great stress, drink plenty of water, 4-5 glasses of green tea in a day. To improve mind and body health, change your attitudes, choose the right food that will nourish and heal.

 

  • Begin your day with three glasses of luke warm water
  • Sit and sip water and mix it with saliva before swallowing
  • Drink at least twelve glasses of water every day
  • Breakfast is an important meal, please do not skip it
  • Eat at regular times every day and enjoy every meal
  • Eat when your mind is calm; do not eat when angry
  • Take vegetarian food, avoid non-vegetarian food
  • Take fruits, vegetable juices as a meal if you are stressed
  • Eat slowly and chew your food well; do not eat in a hurry
  • Eat to fill half your stomach and do not over-eat
  • Avoid all food that are too hot or too cold in temperature
  • Avoid drinking water or fruit juice during your meals
  • Drink water one hour before and one hour after your meals
  • Drink green tea everyday; it is alkaline and antioxidant
  • Snack on fresh fruits, nuts and dried fruits; avoid junk foods
  • Avoid eating the food that have excess salt and excess sugar
  • Excess sugar and salt destroy the mind and body strength
  • Have light and low calorie dinner three hours before sleeping
  • Sit in Virasana or recline in Supta Virasana after your meals
  • Supta Virasana, relieves heaviness and digests food faster
  • Fruit-fast once a month will cleanse your digestive system

Friends and Mathematician Ramanujan

Mathematician Srinawasan Ramanujan didn’t have any close friends- someone asked him the reason. He replied that although he wanted to have close friends -nobody was up to his expectations. When pressed how he expected his friend to be – he replied – like numbers 220 and 284!

The person got confused and asked what is the connection between friendship and these numbers!

 

Ramanujan asked him to find the divisors of each number!
With much difficulty – the person derived and listed them

220 → 1,2,4,5,10,11,20,22,44,55,110,220

284 →1,2,4,71,142,284

Ramanujan then asked the person to exclude the numbers 220 and 284 and asked the sum of the remaining divisors

The person was astonished to find:

220 → 1+2+4+5+10+11+20+22+44+55+110=284

284 →1+2+4+71+142=220

Ramanujan  explained that an ideal friendship should be like these numbers- to complement each other – even when one is absent – the other should represent the friend!

The person thought – no wonder this genius is on the world’s top list of mathematicians!!

 

Hardy–Ramanujan number 1729

The number 1729 is known as the Hardy–Ramanujan number after a famous visit by Hardy to see Ramanujan at a hospital. In Hardy’s words:

I remember once going to see him when he was ill at Putney. I had ridden in taxi cab number 1729 and remarked that the number seemed to me rather a dull one, and that I hoped it was not an unfavorable omen. “No”, he replied, “it is a very interesting number; it is the smallest number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways.”

Immediately before this anecdote, Hardy quoted Littlewood as saying, “Every positive integer was one of [Ramanujan’s] personal friends.”

The two different ways are

1729 = 13 + 123 = 93 + 103

Left or Right

I asked my friend’s son what he wanted to be when he grows up.

He said he wanted to be the Prime Minister some day.

Both of his parents, liberal leftists, were standing there…

I asked him, If you were the PM, what would be the first thing you would do?

He replied, I’d give food and houses to all the homeless people.

His parents beamed with pride…

Wow… what a worthy goal. I told him. But you don’t have to wait until you’re the PM to do that. You can come over to my house and mow the lawn, pull weeds and sweep my yard, and I’ll pay you ₹500. Then I’ll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the same ₹500, for food and new set of clothes.

He thought that over for a few seconds, then he looked me straight in the eyes and asked, Why doesn’t the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him ₹500?

I said, Welcome to the Rightist fold, son.

His parents still aren’t speaking to me…

Author: Unknown

(Source: News snippets)

Just Drops!

 

Recently, when I was going to bed after using my bathroom, I started hearing sound of drops of water from the tap in slow successions, but since it was dropping into an empty bucket, I decided to let it be.

But, alas! When I woke up the next morning, around 5am, the bucket was almost full! I was surprised that just drops even in such slow successions could produce that much. I couldn’t help it, ‘Just drops?!’ I questioned rhetorically.

But the following night, I made sure that the tap in my bathroom was locked completely and I checked the bucket and saw that it was empty, though wet. Then I went to sleep.

I guess you already know what I saw the next morning. The bucket was not wet as I had left it, but it was now dry!

Then I realized the importance of a drop and how much difference it can make in all ramifications of one’s life compared to a dry tap.

Imagine letting the drops be for a year, I would be scooping with drums at the end of the year!

So, how about that drop of savings?

How about that drop of kindness and love everyday?

How about a drop of reading useful books today and every day?

How about that drop of a verse of the scripture today and every day?

How about that drop of prayer today and every day?

How about a drop of worship today and every day?

How about a drop of step towards your God-given dream today and every day?

How about a drop of giving into your heavenly account?

What virtue and discipline will you start today in little drops?

Never neglect the importance of a drop, for when the harvest time comes, you would have made a big difference.

 

These are called Drops of Time !!!

Shree Hanuman Chalisa – Glory of Lord Hanuman

 

Hanuman Chalisa:

The Hanuman Chalisa (Hindi pronunciation: [ɦənʊmaːn tʃaːliːsaː]; literally Forty chaupais on Hanuman) is a Hindu devotional hymn (stotra) addressed to Hanuman. It is traditionally believed to have been authored by 16th-century poet Tulsidas in the Awadhi languageand is his best known text apart from the Ramcharitmanas. The word “chālīsā” is derived from “chālīs”, which means the number forty in Hindi, as the Hanuman Chalisa has 40 verses (excluding the couplets at the beginning and at the end). Hanuman Chalisa is a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman.

Hanuman is a vanara (a monkey-like humanoid), a devotee of Ram, and one of the central characters in the Indian epic poem, the Ramayan. Folk tales acclaim the powers of Hanuman. The qualities of Hanuman – his strength, courage, wisdom, celibacy, devotion to Rama and the many names by which he was known – are detailed in the Hanuman Chalisa. Recitation or chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa is a common religious practice. The Hanuman Chalisa is the most popular hymn in praise of Hanuman, and is recited by millions of Hindus every day.

About the work

The authorship of the Hanuman Chalisa is attributed to Tulsidas, a poet-saint who lived in the 16th century CE. He says in the last stanza of the Chalisa that whoever chants it with full devotion to Hanuman, will have Hanuman’s grace. Amongst the Hindus Worldwide, it is a very popular belief that chanting the Hanuman Chalisa invokes Hanuman’s divine intervention in grave problems, including those concerning evil spirits.

Text

The work consists of forty-three verses – two introductory Dohas, forty Chaupais and one Doha in the end. The first introductory Doha begins with the word shrī, which refers to Sita, who is considered the Guru of Hanuman. The auspicious form, knowledge, virtues, powers and bravery of Hanuman are described in the first ten Chaupais. Chaupais eleven to twenty describe the acts of Hanuman in his service to Ram, with the eleventh to fifteenth Chaupais describing the role of Hanuman in bringing back Lakshman to consciousness. From the twenty-first Chaupai, Tulsidas describes the need of Hanuman’s Kripa. At the end, Tulsidas hails Hanuman and requests him to reside in his heart and in the heart of Vaishnavs. The concluding Doha again requests Hanuman to reside in the heart, along with Ram, Lakshman and Sita.

The translation below follows the English and Hindi translations by Gita Press, Rao, Mehta and Rambhadracharya.

Introductory Dohas

Devanagari
श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज निज मन मुकुर सुधारि।
बरनउँ रघुबर बिमल जसु जो दायकु फल चारि॥

Hunterian
shrīguru charana saroja raja nija mana mukuru sudhāri।
baranau raghubara bimala jasu jo dāyaku phala chāri॥

Cleansing the mirror in the form of my mind with the pollen of the lotus-feet of the Guru, I describe the unblemished glory of Rama, which bestows the four fruits.

Gita Press translation interprets the four fruits as the four Puruṣārthas – DharmaArthaKāma, and Mokṣa. Rambhadracharya comments that the four fruits refer to any of the following

  1. The four Puruṣārthas – Dharma, Artha, Kāma, Mokṣa
  2. The four types of Mukti – Sālokya, Sāmīpya, Sāyujya, Sārūpya
  3. Dharma, JñānaYogaJapa

Devanagari
बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिकै सुमिरौं पवनकुमार।
बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहिं हरहु कलेस बिकार॥

Hunterian
buddhihīna tanu jānikai sumirau pavanakumāra।
bala budhi bidyā dehu mohi harahu kalesa bikāra॥

Knowing my body to be devoid of intelligence, I remember Hanuman, the son of Vāyu. Give me strength, intelligence and knowledge and remove all ailments (kalesa) and impurities (bikāra).

Gita Press interprets kalesa as bodily ailments and bikāra as mental maladies.  Rambhadracharya comments that kalesa (Sanskrit kleśa) refers to the five afflictions (Avidyā, Asmitā, Rāga, Dveṣa, and Abhiniveśa) as described in the Yoga Sutras, and bikāra  (Sanskrit vikāra) refers to the six impurities of the mind (Kāma, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, and Mātsarya). Rambhadracharya adds that these five afflictions and six impurities are the eleven enemies, and Hanuman is capable of removing them as he is the incarnation of the eleven Rudras.

The Chalisa 

Devanagari
जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर।
जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर॥ १ ॥

Hunterian
jaya hanumāna gyāna guna sāgara।
jaya kapīsa tihu loka ujāgara॥ 1 ॥

O Hanuman, the ocean of knowledge and virtues, may you be victorious. O the chief amongst Vanaras famous across the three Lokas (PātālaPrithvi (earth) and Svarga), may you be victorious.

Rambhadracharya comments that Hanuman is called ocean of knowledge by Tulsidas as the Valmiki Ramayana describes him as one who knows the three Vedas (ṚgvedaYajurveda, and Sāmaveda) and Vyākaraṇa.

Devanagari
राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा।
अंजनि पुत्र पवनसुत नामा॥ २ ॥

Hunterian
rāma dūta atulita bala dhāmā।
anjani putra pavanasuta nāmā॥ 2 ॥

You are the trusted messenger of Rama and you are the abode of incomparable strength. You are known by the names of Anjaniputra (son of Anjana) and Pavanasuta (son of Vāyu).

Hanuman is called Anjaniputra as he was born from the womb of Anjana, who was an Apsara with the name Puñjikasthalā and was born as a Vanara by the curse of Agastya. Hanuman is called Pavanasuta since Vāyu carried the divine power of Shiva into Anjana’s womb, and since the Valmiki Ramayana calls Hanuman as Vāyu’s own son (mārutasyaurasaḥ putraḥ).

Devanagari
महावीर विक्रम बजरंगी।
कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी॥ ३ ॥

Hunterian
mahāvīra vikrama bajarangī।
kumati nivāra sumati ke sangī॥ 3 ॥

You are the great hero, you are endowed with valour, your body is as strong as Indra‘s Vajra. You are the destroyer of vile intellect, and you are the companion of one whose intellect is pure.

Rambhadracharya explains the word bajarangī to come from Sanskrit Vajrāṅgī and gives two meanings of the word bikrama based on the root kram in Sanskrit and usage of the verb form vikramasva in Valmiki Ramayana –

  1. Hanuman is endowed with special progression of sādhanā (penance).
  2. Hanuman is endowed with the special action of going over or across, i.e. the crossing of the ocean

Devanagari
कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा।
कानन कुंडल कुंचित केसा॥ ४ ॥

Hunterian
kanchana barana birāja subesā।
kānana kundala kunchita kesā॥ 4 ॥

Your complexion is that of molten gold, and you are resplendent in your handsome form. You wear Kundalas (small earrings worn in old times by Hindus) in your ears and your hair is curly.

Noting that in the Ramcharitmanas Tulsidas calls Hanuman as Subeṣa (one with a handsome form), Rambhadracharya comments that this verse describes the form of Hanuman when he took the appearance of a Brahmin, which happens three times in the Ramcharitmanas.

Devanagari
हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजै।
काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजै॥ ५ ॥

Hunterian
hātha bajra au dhvajā birājai।
kādhe mūnja janeū sājai॥ 5 ॥

You have the Vajra and the flag in your hands, and the sacred-thread (Yajnopavita) made of the Munja grass adorns your shoulder.

Rambhadracharya gives two meanings for the first half of the verse –

  1. The flag signifying the victory of Rama shines forth in Hanuman’s Vajra-like powerful hand
  2. The Vajra-like powerful Gadā and the victory flag of Rama shine forth in Hanuman’s hands

He also gives the variant reading chhājai (छाजै) instead of sājai (साजै) in the second half.

Devanagari
शंकर सुवन केसरी नंदन।
तेज प्रताप महा जग बंदन॥ ६ ॥

Hunterian
shankara suvana kesarī nandana।
teja pratāpa mahā jaga bandana॥ 6 ॥

O son of Shiva (or son of Vāyu carrying the power of Shiva), the delighter of Kesari, your aura and majesty is great and is revered by the whole world.

Rao and Mehta explain the first half as Hanuman is the son of Kesari and Shiva. Rambhadracharya gives two variant readings for the first part–

  1. shankara svayam which is explained as Hanuman is Shiva himself, as Vāyu carried the power of Shiva himself in Anjana’s womb from which Hanuman was born. Tulsidas mentions Hanuman as an Avatar of Shiva in the Vinayapatrika.
  2. shankara suvana which is explained as Hanuman is the son of Vāyu, who is one of the eight manifestations of Shiva as per Kalidasa. An alternate explanation is that the word suvana is used in the sense of Aṃśa as per the Puranic narrative of Vāyu carrying Shivas power to Anjana’s womb.

Rambhadracharya explains kesarī nandana as the Kṣetraja son of Kesari, which is one of the twelve kinds of offspring recognized in the ancient Hindu law.

Devanagari
विद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर।
राम काज करिबे को आतुर॥ ७ ॥

Hunterian
vidyāvāna gunī ati chātura।
rāma kāja karibe ko ātura॥ 7 ॥

You are the praiseworthy abode of the eighteen types of Vidyā (knowledge), all virtues reside in you, and you are exceedingly clever. You are ever eager to perform tasks for Rama.

Devanagari
प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया।
राम लखन सीता मन बसिया॥ ८ ॥

Hunterian
prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiyā।
rāma lakhana sītā mana basiyā॥ 8 ॥

You delight in listening to the acts of Rama (Ramayana). Rama, Lakshmana and Sita reside in your mind. Alternately, you reside in the minds of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita [owing to their affection towards you].

Devanagari
सूक्ष्म रूप धरी सियहिं दिखावा।
बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा॥ ९ ॥

Hunterian
sūkshma rūpa dhari siyahi dikhāvā।
bikata rūpa dhari lanka jarāvā॥ 9 ॥

You assumed an extremely minute form and appeared to Sita in the Ashok Vatika. You assumed a very large and scary form and burnt the city of Lanka.

Devanagari
भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे।
रामचन्द्र के काज सँवारे॥ १० ॥

Hunterian
bhīma rūpa dhari asura sahāre।
rāmachandra ke kāja savāre॥ 10 ॥

You assumed a frightening form and destroyed the demons [in the army of Ravana]. You carried out all the tasks of Rama. 

Rambhadracharya comments that the word bhīma is an allusion to the event in the Mahabharata when Hanuman showed the same frightening form to Bhima.

 

Devanagari
लाय सँजीवनि लखन जियाए।
श्रीरघुबीर हरषि उर लाए॥ ११ ॥

Hunterian
lāya sajīvani lakhana jiyāe।
shrī raghubīra harashi ura lāe॥ 11 ॥

You brought the Sanjivini, the life saving herb from Dronagiri in Himalayas, and revitalized Lakshman. Out of elation, Rama embraced you.

Devanagari
रघुपति कीन्हीं बहुत बड़ाई।
तुम मम प्रिय भरतहि सम भाई॥ १२ ॥

Hunterian
raghupati kīnhī bahut barāī।
tuma mama priya bharatahi sama bhāī॥ 12 ॥

Rama, the chief among Raghu’s descendants, praised you profusely saying “You are dear to me like my brother Bharata.

Rambhadracharya associates the term bhāī with bharata. In contrast, Rao and Mehta interpret the second half as Rama said that you (Hanuman) are my dear brother, like Bharata.

Devanagari
सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावैं।
अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावैं॥ १३ ॥

Hunterian
sahasa badana tumharo jasa gāvai।
asa kahi shrīpati kantha lagāvai॥ 13 ॥

Rao and Mehta’s translation – Rama also added that a thousand people will praise Hanuman’s glory and embraced him again.

Rambhadracharya interprets sahasa badana as the thousand-hooded serpent Shesha. His translation is The serpent Shesha, who has a thousand mouths, sings and will sing your glory, saying thus Rama embraces Hanuman again and again.

Devanagari
सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा।
नारद सारद सहित अहीसा॥ १४ ॥
जम कुबेर दिक्पाल जहाँ ते।
कबी कोबिद कहि सकैं कहाँ ते॥ १५ ॥

Hunterian
sanakādika brahmādi munīsā।
nārada sārada sahita ahīsā॥ 14 ॥
jama kubera dikpāla jahā te।
kabi kobida kahi sakai kahā te॥ 15 ॥

Rao and Mehta translate the two verses as Saints like Sanka, Bramha, Munisa, Narad, Sarad, Sahit and Ahisa have blessed Hanuman; Yama (God of death), Kubera (God of wealth), Dikpala (Gods of eight directions), Kavis (poets), Kovidas (folk singers) cannot describe Hanuman’s reputation. Rambhadracharya associates the verb gāvai in verse 13 with verse 14 and first half of verse 15 also, interprets ahīsā as standing for both Shiva and Vishnu, and kovida as one who knows Vedas. His translation reads The celibate Rishis like Sanaka, the Devatas like BrahmaNarada the best among Munis (sages), Saraswati with Shiva and Vishnu, the eight Dikpalas including Yama and Kubera – all these will sing your glory. To what extent can the mortal poets and scholars of Vedas speak about your infinite glory?

Devanagari
तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा।
राम मिलाय राजपद दीन्हा॥ १६ ॥

Hunterian
tuma upakāra sugrīvahi kīnhā।
rāam milāya rājapada dīnhā॥ 16 ॥

You did Sugriva a great favour by making him meet Rama and bestowing on him the kingdom of Kishkindha.

Devanagari
तुम्हरो मन्त्र बिभीषन माना।
लंकेश्वर भए सब जग जाना॥ १७ ॥

Hunterian
tumharo mantra bibhīshana mānā।
lankeshvara bhae saba jaga jānā॥ 17 ॥

Your Mantra was accepted by Vibishana, as a result of which he became the king of LankaThe whole world knows this.

Devanagari
जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू।
लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू॥ १८ ॥

Hunterian
juga sahasra jojana para bhānū।
līlyo tāhi madhura phala jānū॥ 18 ॥

The Surya, sun situated {1 Yug = 12,000 years, 1 Sahastra = 1000, 1 Yojan = 8 Miles, (Yug x Sahastra x Yojan) = 12,000×1,000×8 miles = 96,000,000 miles (1 mile = 1.6 km) 96,000,000 miles = 96,000,000×1.6 km = 153,600,000 km} 153,600,000 km from the earth, was swallowed by you after you assumed him to be a sweet fruit. (Distance form Sun to Earth exactly calculated – This is another proof that Indian Sages had immense knowledge about Astronomy much before modern scientist discovered them) 

Though Hanuman does not end up swallowing the Surya in Valmiki’s Ramayana, the narrative is referred to by Tulsidas in the Vinayapatrika.] Rambhadracharya ascribes the differences in the narration by Valmiki and Tulsidas to the difference in the Kalpas.

Devanagari
प्रभु मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माहीं।
जलधि लाँघि गये अचरज नाहीं॥ १९ ॥

Hunterian
prabhu mudrikā meli mukha māhī।
jaladhi lāghi gaye acharaja nāhī॥ 19 ॥

O Lord, placing the ring given by Rama in your mouth, you leaped across the ocean – there is no wonder here.

Devanagari
दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते ।
सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते॥ २० ॥

Hunterian
durgama kāja jagata ke jete।
sugama anugraha tumhare tete॥ 20 ॥

All the unattainable tasks in the world become easily attainable with your grace.

Devanagari
राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे।
होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे॥ २१ ॥

Hunterian
rāma duāre tuma rakhavāre।
hota na āgyā binu paisāre॥ 21 ॥

You are the doorkeeper and protector of the door to Rama’s court. Without your command, nobody can enter the abode of Rama.

Rambhadracharya explains paisāre as the Tadbhava form of Sanskrit padasāra.

Devanagari
सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी शरना।
तुम रक्षक काहू को डरना॥ २२ ॥

Hunterian
saba sukha lahai tumhārī saranā।
tuma rakshaka kāhū ko daranā॥ 22 ॥

Once in your refuge, a Sādhaka obtains all the pleasures. You are the protector, and there is nothing to be afraid of.

Devanagari
आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै।
तीनौं लोक हाँक ते काँपे॥ २३ ॥

Hunterian
āpana teja samhāro āpai।
tinau loka hāka te kāpai॥ 23 ॥

When you roar, after remembering your powers, the three worlds tremble with fear.

Rambhadracharya comments that this verse refers to the narrative of Jambavan reminding Hanuman of his powers in the Kishkindha Kanda of Ramayana.

Devanagari
भूत पिशाच निकट नहिं आवै।
महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥ २४ ॥

Hunterian
bhūta pishācha nikata nahi āvai।
mahābīra jaba nāma sunāvai॥ 24 ॥

Evil spirits (bhūta) and meat-eating ghosts (pishācha) do not come near those chant the Mahāvira name of yours.

Devanagari
नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा।
जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा॥ २५ ॥

Hunterian
nāsai roga harai saba pīrā।
japata nirantara hanumata bīrā॥ 25 ॥

The brave Hanuman, when invoked incessantly by the means of Japa, destroys all ailments and removes all sufferings.

Devanagari
संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै।
मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै॥ २६ ॥

Hunterian
sankata te hanumāna chhudāvai।
mana krama bachana dhyāna jo lāvai॥ 26 ॥

Hanuman extricates those from all adversities who remember him (or contemplate upon him) in their heart, by their actions and by their words.

Devanagari
सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा।
तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा॥ २७ ॥

Hunterian
saba para rāma tapasvī rājā।
tina ke kāja sakala tuma sājā॥ 27 ॥

Rama is the supreme God and a king with Tapas, and yet you executed all his tasks.

Rambhadracharya explains that the word saba para is from Sanskrit sarvapara, meaning supreme. A variant reading of this verse is sabapara rāma rāya siratājā, on which Rambhadracharya’s commentary says Rama is the supreme God and king of kings.

Devanagari
और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै।
सोहि अमित जीवन फल पावै॥ २८ ॥

Hunterian
aura manoratha jo koī lāvai।
Sohi amita jīvana phala pāvai॥ 28 ॥

And whoever comes to you with any wish, that wish is fulfilled beyond limits (literally, “they obtain the unlimited fruit of the wish”) in this very birth.

A variant reading is soī amita jīvana phala pāvai.

Devanagari
चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा।
है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा॥ २९ ॥

Hunterian
chāro juga para tāpa tumhārā।
hai parasiddha jagata ujiyyārā॥ 29 ॥

Your glory is famous in all the four Yugas, and illuminates the whole world.

Rambharacharya adds that this verse refers to the immortality of Hanuman, as four cycles of the four Yugas are believed to have passed since the Avatar of Rama.

Devanagari
साधु संत के तुम रखवारे।
असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे॥ ३० ॥

Hunterian
sādhu santa ke tuma rakhavāre।
asura nikandana rāma dulāre॥ 30 ॥

You are the protector of Sadhus (good people or ascetics) and Sants (saints). You are the destroyer of demons and dear as a son to Rama.

Rambhadracharya interprets the word sādhu as Bhaktas who are performing sādhanā and the word santa as Bhaktas whose sādhanā is complete.

Devanagari
अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता।
अस बर दीन्ह जानकी माता॥ ३१ ॥

Hunterian
ashta siddhi nau nidhi ke dātā।
asa bara dīnha jānakī mātā॥ 31 ॥

You are the bestower the eight Siddhis (supernatural powers named Aṇimā, Garimā, Mahimā, Laghimā, Prāpti, Prākāmya, Īśitva, and Vaśitva) and the nine Nidhis (divine treasures named Mahāpadma, Padma, Śaṅkha, Makara, Kacchapa, Mukunda, Kunda, Nīla and Kharva). Mother Sita, the daughter of Janaka, has granted you this boon.

Devanagari
राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा।
सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा॥ ३२ ॥

Hunterian
rāma rasāyana tumhare pāsā।
sadā raho raghupati ke dāsā॥ 32 ॥

You have the treasure of Rama’s Bhakti (rāma rasāyana) with you. You are, respectfully, the servant of Raghupati (Shri Raam).

Rambhadracharya explains the term rāma rasāyana in two ways –

  1. The treasure of love (Bhakti) towards Rama, with rasa meaning devotion and āyana meaning repository
  2. The abode of devotion to Rama (i.e. Ramāyana), with rasa meaning devotion and āyana meaning a house or edifice

The second half has variant readings including sadā raho and sādara tuma instead of sādara ho

Devanagari
तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै।
जनम जनम के दुख बिसरावै॥ ३३ ॥

Hunterian
tumhare bhajana rāma ko pāvai।
janama janama ke dukha bisarāvai॥ 33 ॥

Singing of you (Hanuman), a Bhakta obtains Rama and forgets the adversities and afflictions of many births.

Rambhadracharya explains using verses from Ramcharitmanas and Kavitavali, that as per Tulsidas Jñāna and Vairāgya are the two means to obtain Rama, and Hanuman is both Jñāna and Vairāgya incarnate. Hence serving Hanuman leads to Rama.

Devanagari
अंत काल रघुबर पुर जाई।
जहाँ जन्म हरिभक्त कहाई॥ ३४ ॥

Hunterian
anta kāla raghubara pura jāī।
jahā janma hari bhakta kahāī॥ 34 ॥

As a result of devotion to you, a Bhakta goes to Sāketa Loka (raghubara pura) at the time of their end (physical death). Once the Bhakta reaches Sāketa, wherever they take birth, they are known as the Bhaktas of Hari.

Rambhadracharya interprets this verse to mean that the Bhakta, even discards the blissful Moksha to take birth again in this world as a devotee of Hari, as Tulsidas says in the fourth book of Ramcharitmanas.

Devanagari
और देवता चित्त न धरई।
हनुमत सेइ सर्व सुख करई॥ ३५ ॥

Hunterian
aura devatā chitta na dharaī।
hanumata sei sarba sukha karaī॥ 35 ॥

Even one who does not contemplate on any other Devatas in their mind and only serves Hanuman, achieves all favourable bliss in this world and the next.

Rambhadracharya explains that as per Bhagavad Gita, only Devatas can grant the desired results of actions, but even if one serves Hanuman and no other Devata, they obtain all worldly and other-worldly bliss.

Devanagari
संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा।
जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा॥ ३६ ॥

Hunterian
sankata katai mitai saba pīrā।
jo sumirai hanumata balabīrā॥ 36 ॥

Whoever remembers the brave and mighty Hanuman gets free of all adversities and relief from all pains.

Devanagari
जय जय जय हनुमान गोसाईं।
कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाईं॥ ३७ ॥

Hunterian
jaya jaya jaya hanumāna gusāī।
kripā karahu gurudeva kī nāī॥ 37 ॥

O Hanuman, the master of senses, may you be victorious, may you be victorious, may you be victorious. May you shower your grace lovingly, as a Guru does, and reveal to me the knowledge of devotion to Rama.

Rambhadracharya interprets the three utterances of jaya to mean that Hanuman is sat-cit-ānanda.

Devanagari
जो शत बार पाठ कर कोई।
छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई॥ ३८ ॥

Hunterian
jo shata bāra pātha kara koī।
chhūtahi bandi mahā sukha hoī॥ 38 ॥

One who recites Hanuman Chalisa a hundred times (or for hundred days) is released from bondage and obtains great bliss”.

Rambhadracharya interprets shata as standing for the number 108 and bāra (Sanskrit vāra) to mean a day. He explains the words to mean that one who recites the Hanuman Chalisa 108 times daily for 108 days will be released from the bondages of this world and the next, and will obtain great bliss.

Devanagari
जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा।
होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा॥ ३९ ॥

Hunterian
jo yaha parhai hanumāna chālīsā।
hoya siddha sākhī gaurīsā॥ 39 ॥

One who reads this Hanuman Chalisa obtains Siddhi (accomplishment or liberation). Shiva himself bears witness to this statement.

Rao and Mehta explain this as “One who reads Hanuman Chalisa attains siddhis of God Shiva and becomes his friend.”

Devanagari
तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा।
कीजै नाथ हृदय महँ डेरा॥ ४० ॥

Hunterian
tulasīdāsa sadā hari cherā।
kījai nātha hridaya maha derā॥ 40 ॥

Tulsidas is always a devotee of Hari. O Lord, make my heart your abode.

Rambhadracharya offers three explanations for this verse in accordance with three different Anvayas (connection of words)

  1. O Hanuman, the lord of Vanaras, you are always in the service of Hari (Rama), may you reside in the heart of Tulsidas.
  2. Tulsidas says O Lord Hanuman, may you ever reside in the heart of the devotees who serve Hari (Rama).
  3. Tulsidas is ever the servant of Hari (Hanuman, as Hari also means Vanara in Sanskrit), may you reside in my heart.

Chopai – Concluding Doha

Devanagari

पवनतनय संकट हरन मंगल मूरति रूप।
राम लखन सीता सहित हृदय बसहु सुर भूप॥

Hunterian
pavantanaya sankata harana mangala mūrati rūpa।
rāma lakhan sītā sahita hridaya basahu sura bhūpa॥

O Son of Vāyu, remover of adversities, one with an auspicious form, and the chief among all Devas, may you reside in our hearts along with Rama, Lakshman and Sita.

Rambhadracharya explains that Tulsidas addresses Hanuman with four adjectives in this final verse to indicate that Hanuman helps cleanse the mind (Manas), intellect (Buddhi), heart (Citta) and ego (Ahaṅkāra), and by asking him to reside in the heart of the devotee, Tulsidas ends the work by implying that the refuge of Hanuman is the supreme pursuit.

Review

Swami Karpatri considered Hanuman Chalisa to be a supreme Pramana, omnipotent and capable of fulfilling all wishes, like the Vedic Mantras. Rambhadracharya called it full of auspiciousness and a jewel amongst Stotras, and said that he had witnessed and heard of many instances where the wishes of people reciting the Chalisa with faith were granted.

In popular culture

The Hanuman Chalisa is recited by millions of Hindus every day, and most practicing Hindus in India know its text by heart. The work is known to popular among people from diverse educational, social, linguistic, musical, and geographical groups.

 

JAI SHRI RAM !!!

Dedicated to all Buzy People

 

Nice lines by Sri Javed Akhtar Sahab.

 

ज़िन्दगी के इस कश्मकश मैं
वैसे तो मैं भी काफ़ी बिजी हुँ
लेकिन वक़्त का बहाना बना कर
अपनों को भूल जाना मुझे आज भी नहीं आता !

जहाँ यार याद न आए वो तन्हाई किस काम की
बिगड़े रिश्ते न बने तो खुदाई किस काम की,
बेशक अपनी मंज़िल तक जाना है

पर जहाँ से अपने ना दिखे
_वो ऊंचाई किस काम की !!!

 

Javed Akthar

Bills Gates Speech

 

BILL Gates’ SPEECH TO MT. WHITNEY HIGH SCHOOL,Visalia, California.

Worthwhile reading for anyone. Love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail on the head with this! To anyone with kids of any age, or anyone who has ever been a kid, here’s some advice Bill Gates   recently dished out at a high  school speech about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1:     Life is not fair – get used to it

Rule 2:    The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3:    You will NOT make $40,000 a year right out of high school. You won’t be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4:    If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5:    Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your   grandparents had a different word for burger flipping-they called it  opportunity.

Rule 6:    If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7:    Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring  as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills,cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of ur parents’ generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8:    Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they’ll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9:    Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few  employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10:  Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11:  Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.

 

Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Baskerville 2 by Anders Noren.

Up ↑